Sunday, February 27, 2011

There are three levels of bacon in this portrait; Canadian Bacon-the leanist and therefore healthiest meat representing the original Justin and in a style most evocative of his original haircut; raw slab bacon-representing the processed, Americanized Justin presented 'for sale' but also in a controlled state: and finally-crispy fried bacon, which evokes the chaos inherent in his most recent haircut and perhaps a harbinger of unhealthy but delicious things to come. The scene behind Justin is meant to represent a typical Canadian small town rural factory landscape; the smoke changes from pure white to a dirty grey. Justin's clothing looks more like an Islamic hijab than a hoodie; this is contrasted against the wealth of forbidden meat upon his forehead. It will be very difficult for Justin as a Christian to continue in his career without succumbing to secular temptations.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

The cat represents authoritarian leaders in the Middle East who's power is fed by oil wealth. The tab of butter on the pancake represents oil, and is pressuring both east and west, here painted as continents of syrup. The three cat treats are in the shapes of crosses and represent Christianity, the previous power structure which is now scattered upon a dry ocean bed and shall be devoured last. The tongue and mouth are disproportionately large and ill-defined.

A portrait of newly elected Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel with some hamantashen cookies on top of his head-

Hamantashen, a traditional Jewish food representing the victory of Purim, extend outwards from Rahm's head until the last cookie is in a precarious, unsupported position. There are five cookies and five clouds, representing Rahm's previous Fifth District seat. The cookies suggest the newly transparent observation deck at the Sears / Willis Tower in Chicago. We can see through the cookie, unable to tell if there is actually a glass floor to support our weight. The hamantashen also signify that Rahm's Jewish identity forms the structure of how he views the world, up to the under-construction point of the present moment defined ultimately by his own personality and propensity for risk-taking. The blue beneath the last cookie represents Lake Michigan, which seems to be reaching upwards into the tranquility of Rahm's thoughts, anticipating future conflict. The turbulence emanates from Rahm himself.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

New Rahm Emanuel Paintings In Progress. Thanks to Jewcy.com for the 'Jewcy Art: Rahm With Pancakes, Lox And Bagels On His Head' post-http://www.jewcy.com/arts-and-culture/jewcy-art-rahm-with-pancakes-lox-and-bagels-on-his-head

Monday, February 07, 2011

Thanks to Herman for sending these pics of my internet viral video meme paintings hanging in the Google / YouTube offices at the Roppongi Hills Mori Tower complex in Tokyo, Japan. The paintings were commissioned by YouTube a few months ago. I have two more larger canvases for their office in progress-